Clinton e



C. R. HARDY.

Car Coupling. i N0. 80,730'. Patented Aug. 4,1868,

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CLINTON R. HARDY, OF LEXINGTON, INDIANA..

Letters Patent 1Y0. 80,730, dated August 4, 1868.

IMPROVED CAR-COUPLING.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:

Be it knowni that I, CLINTON R. HARDY, of Lexington, in the county of Scott, and State of Indiana, have invented a. new and useful Improvement in Car-Couplings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, which will enablelothcrs skilledin the art to make and use the same, reference being 'had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a sidel view of my improved car-coupling detached.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section ofthe same, taken through the line x, iig. 1, showing it coupled.

`Figure 3 is the same view as g. 2, showing the coupling-bar in the act of coupling..

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts.

My invention has for its object tofurnish asimple, convenient, strong, safe, and reliable car-coupling, which shall at the same time be so constructed and arranged as to uneouple itself should one or more cars of the train be overturned or thrown from the track."y

It consists in the construction and combination of the various parts of the coupling, as hereinafter more fully described. l i

A is the coupling-bar, in which, near its end, is formed'a long slot, in the forward part ofwhich slot is pivoted a block, B, by a pin or bolt or passing through the edges of thebar A, and through the centre of the block B, as shownin figs. 1, 2, and 3. v

C is a. spring, the rear end of which is secured in the rear part of the slot in the bar A, in such a position that its forward end may rest in a notch in the centre of vthe rear side edge of 4the block D, so that when the said block B is left free, the said spring C may always bringr it into and hold it in a position at right angles to the length of the bar A. 4

D are two parallel spring-bars, the rear ends of which arevattached to the draught-bar of the car, and which project forward at a distanceapart equal to the thickness of the coupling-bar A, so that they may receive the said bar between them.

Thesprings D are mortised horizontally, to receive the ends ofthe block B, toreouple theears and sustain the draught, as shown in iig. 2. The inner edge of the forward end of one of the spring-bars D is bevelled o', as shown in igs. Zand 3, so that, as the cars are run together, and the bar A enters the space between the springbrars D, the pivoted block B may be turnedautomatically into a position parallel with the length of the bar A, so as to enter the space between the springs D, in which position it is held bythe pressure of the said springbars D, until it reaches the mortises in the said spring-bars D, when it is forced into a. position at right angles t0 the length of the bar A,- by the action of the spring C, securely coupling the cars.

The cars, when upon a line with cach other, can only be uncupled by turning the block B into :a position parallel with the length ofthe bar A, allowing said bar to be drawn out, uncoupling the ears. But should one Yormore ofthe cars be thrown from the track vby any accident, the sidepressure of the bar A against one ofthe .spring-bars D, will force the spring against which it presses so far to one side that the end of the block B will be drawn out ofthe mortise of the other spring, allowing the said block D to be drawn into a position parallel with the bar A, uncoupling the car or cars that have been thrownfrom the track from those still remaining upon said track. Y

If desired, the spring-bars D may be covered or encased, so as to protect them, and so as to guide the said .coupling-bar A, and more surely hold it in proper position while entering the space between the spring-bars D.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new, and desire t0 s eeure by Letters Patent- The slotted couplingbar Apivotcd block B, spring C, and mortised spring-bars D, with each other'and `with the,draughtbars of the cars, substantially as herein shown and described, and for the purpose set forth.

CLINTON R. HARDY.

Witnesses:

W. H. Davis, S. A. GREEN. 

